Department Chair & Associate Professor of Nursing

Job Description Summary

The Department Chair & Associate Professor of Nursing provides visionary academic and administrative leadership for the nursing program(s) within the College of Health Professions, guiding the preparation of competent, caring, and ethically grounded nurses in alignment with Saint Leo University's Benedictine values and mission. This role combines active nursing scholarship and undergraduate/graduate-level teaching with comprehensive responsibility for program development and continuous improvement, faculty recruitment and oversight, clinical partnership management, and specialized accreditation compliance (e.g., CCNE or ACEN).
The Chair ensures academic rigor, clinical excellence, and student readiness for professional nursing practice within an evolving healthcare landscape, while fostering a collaborative and mission-driven culture among faculty, staff, students, and community and clinical partners. The position requires a balance of instructional excellence, administrative acumen, regulatory knowledge, and servant leadership consistent with the University's core values of excellence, community, respect, personal development, responsible stewardship, and integrity.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are representative of the position and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, tasks, and skills required.

Academic and Program Leadership

• Provide strategic, visionary leadership for the nursing department, establishing goals and priorities consistent with the College of Health Professions' and University's strategic plan.f

• Oversee the design, delivery, and continuous quality improvement of undergraduate and/or graduate nursing curricula to ensure alignment with current professional, regulatory, and licensure standards.

• Lead ongoing program assessment and outcomes evaluation, including NCLEX pass rates, program completion rates, and job placement data, using results to drive curricular and instructional improvement.

• Serve as the primary institutional liaison and lead for specialized nursing accreditation processes (e.g., CCNE, ACEN) and Florida Board of Nursing approval, including self-study preparation, site visit coordination, and ongoing compliance monitoring.

• Develop, implement, and monitor academic policies and procedures specific to the nursing program in compliance with university, state, and specialized accreditor requirements.

• Represent the nursing department in College and University governance, including participation on relevant committees, councils, and task forces.

Faculty Management and Development

• Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard qualified full-time and adjunct nursing faculty, ensuring compliance with accreditation and regulatory qualification standards.

• Conduct regular performance evaluations, classroom observations, and annual reviews of faculty; provide constructive feedback and support professional growth plans.

• Mentor faculty in evidence-based pedagogy, simulation-based learning, clinical instruction methods, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

• Facilitate faculty workload assignments, course scheduling, and clinical rotation assignments to ensure adequate coverage and equitable distribution.

• Support faculty in pursuit of scholarship, research, professional certification, and continuing education aligned with promotion and tenure guidelines.

• Foster a collegial, inclusive, and mission-centered departmental culture that promotes collaboration among full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty.

Clinical Partnerships and External Relations

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with hospitals, healthcare systems, long-term care facilities, and community health organizations to secure and sustain high-quality clinical placement sites.

• Negotiate and manage clinical affiliation agreements in collaboration with University legal counsel and risk management.

• Represent the nursing program within professional, regional, and community organizations to advance the program's reputation and expand partnership opportunities.

• Engage alumni, clinical partners, and advisory board members to inform curriculum relevance and support student career pathways.

Operational and Administrative Management

• Develop, monitor, and manage the department's operating budget, including instructional resources, simulation and lab equipment, and clinical partnership costs.

• Oversee course scheduling, room and lab allocation, and simulation center utilization to support program delivery across modalities (on-campus, hybrid, online).

• Ensure effective use of Workday for faculty workload, budget, and personnel administration, and Canvas (or the University's learning management system) for course design consistency and quality assurance.

• Maintain accurate program records, syllabi archives, and documentation required for institutional and specialized accreditation reviews.

• Respond to and resolve student academic concerns, grievances, and progression issues in accordance with University policy.

Teaching, Scholarship, and Student Success

• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate nursing courses as assigned, maintaining a reduced teaching load commensurate with administrative responsibilities.

• Integrate simulation-based learning, nursing informatics, and emerging educational technologies into instruction to enhance clinical reasoning and competency development.

• Maintain an active program of scholarship, professional development, and clinical practice to preserve currency and credibility in the discipline.

• Promote student retention, engagement, and success through academic advising, mentorship, and proactive identification of at-risk students.

• Advocate for the nursing profession and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in student recruitment, retention, and program culture.

Performs other duties as assigned by the Dean or University leadership in support of departmental and institutional goals.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of nursing science, clinical practice standards, and contemporary healthcare delivery systems.

• Deep understanding of nursing education theory, curriculum design, and pedagogy across didactic, clinical, and simulation modalities.

• Working knowledge of national nursing accreditation standards (CCNE and/or ACEN) and State Board of Nursing regulatory requirements.

• Familiarity with nursing informatics, simulation-based learning platforms, and instructional technology.

• Knowledge of higher education administration, including budget management, personnel administration, and shared governance structures.

• Proficiency with University administrative and instructional systems, including Workday and Canvas (or equivalent LMS).

• Awareness of current and emerging trends in nursing practice, healthcare policy, and nursing workforce development.

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills appropriate for healthcare, academic, and administrative audiences.

Demonstrated leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to motivate and develop faculty and staff.

• Effective project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and competing deadlines.

• Sound assessment and data analysis skills to evaluate program outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

• Proven budget management and resource allocation skills.

• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills for managing clinical partnerships and community engagement.

• Effective mentoring and coaching skills to support faculty growth and student success.

Abilities

• Ability to maintain clinical credibility and currency through ongoing practice, certification, and professional engagement.

• Ability to foster and sustain productive partnerships with healthcare organizations and community stakeholders.

• Ability to balance academic rigor with practical relevance in curriculum design and program delivery.

• Ability to advocate effectively for the nursing profession, program, and students at the institutional and community level.

• Ability to promote equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging among a diverse student and faculty population.

• Ability to exercise sound, ethical judgment and decision-making under pressure and in ambiguous situations.

• Ability to lead organizational change and manage competing priorities in a dynamic healthcare and higher education environment.

Minimum Qualifications and Educational Requirements

Required

•Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from a nationally accredited nursing program.

• Current, active, and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license, or eligibility for licensure, in the State of Florida.

• Minimum of five (5) years of clinical nursing practice experience.

• Minimum of three (3) years of nursing education/teaching experience at the postsecondary level.

• Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, program assessment, or academic administration.

• Eligibility to hold graduate and/or undergraduate teaching faculty status in accordance with SACSCOC and specialized accreditation requirements.

Preferred

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Ph.D. in Nursing or a closely related field.

• Prior experience in a tenure-track or tenured faculty appointment.

• Prior academic administrative experience, such as program director, department chair, or associate dean.

• Direct experience with CCNE or ACEN accreditation self-study preparation and site visits.

• National certification in nursing education (e.g., Certified Nurse Educator – CNE) or a clinical specialty.

• Experience with simulation-based education and simulation center administration.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

Work is generally performed in a standard office, classroom, and clinical/simulation laboratory environment. This role may require occasional travel to clinical affiliate sites, accreditation site visits, and professional conferences. Some evening or weekend commitments may be required to support program events, clinical rotations, or accreditation activities. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Alignment with University Mission and Core Values

As a Catholic Benedictine institution, Saint Leo University expects this position to model and promote the University's core values in all aspects of departmental leadership, teaching, and community engagement:

• Excellence — Pursuing continuous improvement in nursing education, clinical outcomes, and faculty and student development.

• Community — Building collaborative relationships among faculty, students, staff, and clinical and community partners.

• Respect — Valuing the dignity of every student, faculty member, patient, and colleague.

• Personal Development — Supporting the intellectual, professional, and personal growth of faculty and students alike.

• Responsible Stewardship — Managing departmental resources, budgets, and partnerships with integrity and accountability.

• Integrity — Upholding the highest ethical standards in nursing practice, education, and academic administration.

Additional Notes

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community consistent with its Catholic Benedictine mission and values.

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world.  Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!

We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center

*Eligibility based on meeting required service period

2025 ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo